“The IPCC report describes a serious situation, but there is hope”

Behind the many pages with scientific data and policy recommendations of the Sixth Assessment Report on Climate Change (AR6), published today, there are people who have been passionately dedicated for years to a complex work of coordination, review, mediation. Anna Pirani is among these: a PhD in oceanography, the Italian scientist is senior research of the Euro-Mediterranean Center on climate change (The CMCC acts as IPCC Focal Point for Italy) and divides her time between Trieste, where she is said to be “hosted by the of international physics Ictp” and Paris, where the technical unit of the IPCC meets.

The keywords of the report are “gravity”, “urgency” “hope”. Can you explain to us why such a gloomy picture, outlined by the first two, still leaves room for hope?

“We can achieve a more sustainable world: rapidly reducing our emissions can limit global warming. This is good news, because we know that the choices we make today determine the shared future of the people who inhabit the entire planet. However, there is the urgent need to act immediately, because the effects of global warming on the climate, with repercussions on ecosystems and society, are evident to all and the responses to this emergency have not been clear up to now. The situation is serious, we can no longer use different terms, because global warming has effects in all regions, with some ecosystems and populations most in danger, where adaptation limits are already being exceeded.But the general consideration is not depressing, because these effects can be limited in a significant”.

His role implies the mediation between the reports made by scientists and the elaborations made by governments. Is anyone rowing against?

“I’ve really seen I’ve seen all governments concerned about the seriousness of the situation as much as we scientists. Then, of course, how they want to respond to this emergency differs and has to do with the situation of each individual country. But from the beginning of the work governments interact by agreeing on the content of the reports, so if you read terms such as “gravity and urgency” they are also shared by the political representatives.After all, these reports serve precisely to develop policies and the debate during approval serves to ensure that there is a clear message that speaks to each of these governments”.i”.

How much work and how much effort are behind each chapter of the Report?

“It is very intense work, without respite. In addition, there was also the pandemic and translating our discussions, the moments of discussion only online was not easy. For us, face-to-face meetings are an essential key to arriving at solutions shared”.

You mean there’s a human side as important as scientific data?

“Yes, a cycle is closing and we are reflecting a lot on this time spent together, all those who have been part of it, authors and delegates, speak of a very important human experience. We get tired, the pace of work is often exhausting , we clash on extreme positions, but no one abandons and those who have already worked on drafting a report want to return”.